Hi, I'm thinking about a 2000 SAN with the Python engine... have any of you been in or ridden behind it? it has the ballast, perfect pass, etc. anyone have any feedback? I can't test drive the boat until I get there so looking for any comments at all...

That boat will throw one of the best wake around. It is a highly regarded and proven wake. The hull has been the same since 95 and ran through 2006. It was used on the supersport originally, then converted to the super air or 210. As mentioned the interiors will differ but the bottom hull is the same. I have an older supersport and love it. Depending on your riding level you may want more than the stock ballast. I run around 2100lbs in mine and I love the wake. Top three wake IMO would be the Nautique 210 SAN, 04 and up X-Star and 05 and up Malibu VlX. All heavily weighted. The Nautique will require the least amount of weight for a great wake.

my cousin has a '99 with the python. we run about 2000 lbs. in it and the wake is huge with tons of pop. we ride 85' rope and not much more than a drifting cut will boot you up and over quite easily. that 502 gets good gas mileage too, better than my PS205 w/350. some will tell you that they use more, but they don't have to work as hard to get out of the water and stay on plane. it does burn a little bit of oil though, but that is common on a big block. that year (2000) still has the wide gunnels on it, which are a plus for getting boards out of the rack. if you do get it, watch for the platform brackets, the engine rattles them out of the hull, and the little plastic cups around the lift rings under the platform will continually fall off. after the first time, silicone the holes up. that engine is brutal on the boat hardware, well worth it though. if you have any more questions, email me... wakesk8ter@hotmail.com

The SAN will have a much better wake than an 02 VLX. The 05 and up VLX can compare, but not the older ones. Have you test drove the python?? I hear they are pretty loud, but also pretty sweet, might want to make sure you try it out.

i went from an 00 SAN to a 06 VLX. The SAN was a sick boat! only 2 rear 200 lb tanks that take a long time to fill. I'm talkin 20 min. for both. someone mentioned interior differences which is full wraparound seating as opposed to the bench only rear seat, 1 piece hydraulic hatch, and extra wide gunnels which I REALLY liked. I left my ballst full and a bag in the ski locker alll year long bc it just wasted too much gas to try to fill (1 pump for both tanks) bc you almost had to be moving for them to fill. The boat does throw a sick wake! and you can get one for pretty cheap we bought ours with 400 sumthin hours for 30 and sold it to a friend for 20. Great boat no problems and tech feautures (auto nav light, touch start, cool digi gauges). I had NO problems with mine in the year and half stint. Cheers I'm goin snowboarding!

Bought mine back in June, and absolutely love it. Of course my purchase took into consideration the limited room in a SAN, and I was aware the 2000 had a one piece rear deck, and an antiquated ballast filling design. I bought mine with 175hrs on it for $31k. I added a center sack with a simer pump, a heater, PP Wakeboard Pro, and replaced the old Teleflex gauges with the new Faria style. I currently run stock ballast and an additional 600lbs of lead hidden throughout the boat. Even with all that weight, the boat still handles very well, and I get surprisingly good fuel savings compared to other heavily weighted boats I ride in.

I'd pass on the Python unless it was cheep, cheep. I love my 2000 other than the wake being sensitive- It seems to be difficult to get tuned in and stay that away. As people shift around differnet speeds etc it seems to wash on the passenger side.

"The Python 502 by PCM is the most powerful engine ever to be placed in a production Ski/Boarding boat. It produces 435 horspower and 510 ft/lbs of torque. This "Beast" sports many Hi-Performance modifications, right from the factory. It features a roller cam, lifters and rockers....A wicked multi-port fuely setup that feeds the thirst of the Big Block, and to match the intake, the engine spits out it's exhaust through twin 4 inch exhaust ports that are "NOT" fed through any kind of muffler system"

Those colors look great on the water! I am pretty confident the hulls will be the same from 95-05. There are some differences in the top caps of some of the year models and the rear of the boat. Most noticeable is the Slant rear vs. the straight (vertical) rear of the boat. Either way $28k for an 00 with a Python is a fair deal. That engine was a high dollar option, close to $5k-$6k from what i have read.

This boat will be relatively loud compared to other wakeboats you have been in simply because of the way the exhaust is setup. This can "wear" on some people after a day of riding... This boat may also need more attention to tuning. Once again these are things i have read about and do not have direct knowledge of. Planetnautique.com has a bunch of guys that know a lot more about this boat/engine combo.

My buddy has an 03 SANTE and I just Bought a 00 myself on Dec 4th. I ride on just about every brand of boat and this wake is SICK. I have the rear ballast and I am plumbing a 600 pound sak in the locker. The nice thing about the SAN you dont have to wieght them down much. THe BU is nice but you cant go wrong with the CC. THat is just my .02 cents.